Rome, 19 October. Truckers' protests against rising diesel prices spread across southern Italy, with road and port blockades disrupting deliveries and leaving some supermarket shelves empty, the Italian news agency ANSA reported.
Truckers blocked access to the commercial port of Naples, and blockades and demonstrations also took place in Calabria, Basilicata, Puglia and Sicily. The distribution of goods slowed, especially of fresh produce, with shortages reported in Campania, Sicily and Calabria. The protests also affected the collection and delivery of agricultural products, and producers fear losses.
The truckers want higher transport rates, which are failing to keep pace with the price of diesel. Transport Minister Matteo Salvini said he was confident the government could release delayed funds, hear the hauliers' demands and start a dialogue to ease pressure on the roads. The Transport Ministry will meet representatives of industry associations on Tuesday.
The protests in Italy are part of a wave of discontent over the cost of living in Europe: in the same days people took to the streets in France, where unrest led to hundreds of looted shops and thousands of arrests, and a curfew was imposed on the Place de la République in Paris.
Background: For hauliers fuel is one of the main costs, so a rise in the price of diesel quickly feeds into transport rates and shop prices; Tuesday's meeting will show whether the government is ready to compensate hauliers for rising costs.
List of sources used: Anadolu, Anadolu, TASS
Artificial intelligence was used in preparing this material.
